ASUU Strike Still On as Negotiations Continue

Negotiations between the Academic Staff Union of Universities and the Federal Government continued on Friday morning as this evening's session was not conclusive. However, members of the negotiating teams appeared to be in high spirits after the meeting. Academic Staff Union of Universities president, Chukwuka Awuzie told journalist that the meeting is likely to continue tomorrow.

"We have had deliberations, you know those of you who were here earlier will know that we have been here for more than three hours. We have looked at the issues. We have made some progress. We are likely to continue very early tomorrow morning where we will finish. When we finish, we will make a statement." On whether the strike was over, he said, "it is not over" adding that the issue will be resolved "very soon".

On his level of satisfaction he said, "if we fought there, you won't see us smiling. All of us are patriots. We are talking about one thing: the good of the education sector in Nigeria. There are no adversaries in this matter. There are no winners. There are no losers. That is why we should work together." Reacting to question about the hopes she had expressed for a resolution of the problem today, the minister of Education, Professor Ruqayyatu Rufai, said "I did not promise that the demands will be met today.

What I said is that it is our hope and desire that based on what we are doing so far, the strike will be called off. But if it doesn't, I didn't say that it will. ...I can't speak for them. But I said it is our hope and desire. So, today as you have seen, we have met and we have made progress. Of course we are still meeting. Even tomorrow at ten we have another meeting with ASUU. So, we are making progress." Minister of Labour and Productivity, Emeka Wogu, also expressed hope that after the resolution of the issue, there will be a lasting industrial peace in the sector.

"So we've made progress like the president of ASUU told you, (and) like the Minister of Education equally said. We've made progress and everything will continue tomorrow. We believe that at the end of full discussions on this strike, we will come to a conclusion that will be more lasting than the previous ones."